A National Traffic Safety Committee proposal to manufacture a special helmet for women from ethnic groups, who traditionally wind their hair into huge buns on top of their heads, has been rejected by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Putting helmets on top of the bun
Helmets offer little use for ethnic women, especially women of Thai ethnic group, because of their traditional hairstyle prevents the helmet from covering their heads.
Several proposals have been tabled, including making a hole on top of the helmet, however, most of the proposals fail to meet safety requirements and their production costs are often 30 to 60% higher.
Lai Huy Doanh from the Ministry of Science and Technology thought that new kind of helmet is not necessary. He said that the Black Thai ethnic group which largely lives in the country’s northern provinces only accounts for under 1% of the total population. Moreover, the government would have to adjust a series of regulations and rules for the special helmets.
The National Traffic Safety Committee wants a new helmet for ethnic women
The National Traffic Safety Committee wants a new helmet for ethnic women
Le Thi Hoai Phuong, from the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies, suggested persuading the women and their families to drop the hairstyle when travelling.
Khuat Viet Hung, vice chairman of the National Traffic Committee, said, “It’s great if we can persuade them to change hairstyle when travelling, but this will be a long process so we’ll continue the research a new kind of helmet during this time.”
Hung said they would ask several producers to research a new helmet model and would ask Ministry of Science and Technology to see which regulations must be adjusted and how they should pilot the plan.
Traffic Committee and ministry clash over helmets for ethnic women DTiNews Related image(s)
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